170 more landowners yet to give up homes as Fast Rail, and Olympic venue go ahead in Woodridge

More than 100 landowners are yet to sell their properties to make for the Gold Coast to Kuraby Fast Rail as Logan gears up for the Olympics. A new indoor stadium and multimillion-dollar upgrades to three suburban train stations are plannned.

Jacaranda Ave at Logan Central where it is believed there are houses on the train line that will be resumed for the fast rail link to the Gold Coast. Images: Google

A suburban train station will undergo a massive facelift to become a major interchange and shopping centre on the proposed Gold Coast Fast Rail Line as Logan gears up to build a new Olympic stadium.

The plan will see Woodridge train station undergo a multimillion-dollar transformation so it will be able to cope with thousands of Olympic visitors to a new indoor stadium, slated to be built at nearby Logan Central for the 2032 Olympics.

The address for the new Olympic venue remained under wraps, but was believed to be on Bardon Rd at Logan Central and within walking distance to the Woodridge station.

More than 130 properties have already been resumed by the state government to make way for the fast rail project.

The station upgrade, set to transform Woodridge into a major logistics and transport hub, formed part of the project.

The Woodridge station plans included a shopping plaza and express train connections to Brisbane.

The $5.75 billion-dollar plan would boost train services between the Gold Coast and Logan in time for the 2032 Olympics. It has already included property resumptions at Trinder Park.

A further 170 properties, some believed to be on Jacaranda Ave at Logan Central, still needed to be compulsorily acquired over the next three months.

Jacaranda Ave at Logan Central where houses back on to the train line.

Logan mayoral candidate Jon Raven told Wednesday’s council meeting that residents expected the council to keep them informed and advocate on their behalf, even though the project was a state initiative which would benefit all of Logan.

He said the Kuraby to the Gold Coast Faster Rail was the biggest state government public transport investment in Logan in decades and it was important to get great outcomes for Logan centres such as Woodridge, Loganlea and Beenleigh.

“Council officers have really pushed the wagon for the people of Logan to make sure that ... residents who are asked to give up their homes so that other people can have better public transport ... that their sacrifice is not wasted,” he said.

“We are very grateful for those who had to give up their homes during a housing crisis ... it is so important though that we get great outcomes for our centres and cities by pushing to make sure this project is done well.”

A council report said with an Olympic venue now secured for Logan Central, the Woodridge station should be considered as an express stop between Gold Coast and Brisbane.

The report said the station was one of the most densely populated centres in Logan and a key point of access for the proposed indoor Olympic venue at Logan Central.

Plans reveal a wide underground pass linking Croydon Rd and Charles Ave underneath the train line with “a generous plaza” at Station Rd.

Railway Pde at Logan Central, Woodridge where the train station will undergo a massive upgrade and include a shopping plaza. Picture: Contributed

A Park ’n’ Ride was expected to be built on Railway Pde to service the upgraded Woodridge station.

The proposed 7000-seat stadium will host sports including basketball, netball, volleyball, gymnastics, futsal, badminton, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball games.

The facility would be developed by the state government, funded by the state and federal governments and designed and delivered in partnership with Logan council.

The officer report said the council was working closely with the state Transport Department to “minimise any negative impacts” on the Logan community.

Contracts for the Faster Rail project were expected to be awarded this year.